May 2025 news

Retreat at Nazareth

Eleven seminarians from Marist College, Suva, participated in a retreat at Nazareth Prayer Centre recently led by Fr Tony Kennedy SM. There were five students from Fiji, five from PNG and one from the Solomon Islands.

Daily reflections on the Scriptures were complemented by sessions recalling pioneer Marist missionaries and opportunities for sharing personal reflections.

Some of Fr Tony's memories of the retreat are pictured below.                              [May 28]

St Brigid's190th

A Mass of thanksgiving and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on May 25 concluded a series of events marking the 190th anniversary of historic St Brigid's Church-School at Millers Point in Sydney's 'Rocks'.

For a summary of the events and an historical background to St Brigid's, click here.                              [May 27]

Oceania finance meeting

For its annual meeting the Finance Committee of Oceania Marist Province gathered at Hunters Hill on May 21 to review and plan for financial matters concerning Marists in the Pacific.

At its conclusion Oceania provincial, Fr Milikiade Rayalu SM, expressed the gratitude of the province to financial advisors, John Gorman, Peter Sheehan and Jim Chronis for managing the province's funds so well and for valuable advice given throughout another year.                           [May 24]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on Fr Jacques Arguin's reappointment as Provincial of Canada, students' ministry in Mexico, Superiors-General meeting and Fr Daniel Fernandez' orientation in Rome.  To download, click here, or go to Members' Page.                              [May 23] 

On Mission

The Marist  Missionary Sisters' newsletter from Africa-Europe, On Mission, reports on vocation ministry and collaboration with the Marist Family. To download, click here.                              [May 21] 

Pope Leo's Inauguration Mass

In a ceremony at St Peter's attended by 150,000 Pope Leo's Mass of Inauguration was celebrated on May 18. Scenes are pictured below.                                  [May 19] 

Above: First moments in Pope Leo's inauguration ceremony, the Holy Father enters through the piazza of St Peter's.  |   Inside the basilica and in the company of Eastern patriarchs Pope Leo visits the resting place of St Peter.  Below:  Honouring the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  |  The pallium, symbol of the Pope's pastoral role as shepherd of the flock.  |  Investiture wih the pallium. 

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on the appointment of Fr Miguel Angel Contreras as auxiliary bishop of Callao, Peru, Superior-General's visitation of Germany and Tongan pilgrims at the General House.

To download, click here or go to Members' Page.                                   [May 16]

Web visits

For number-crunching visitors to the website of the Marist Fathers Australian District, here are some recent statistics.  Over the first five months of 2025 there has been a surge of visits to the site's news pages with a steady climb in frequency from a daily average of 394 in January to over 660 in mid-May.

So far in the current month daily visits have ranged from 586 to 1,161 with an average opening of four pages per visit. The figures indicate visits every 2  to 4 minutes.

Allowing for a two-month statistics software glitch in Oct-Nov 2024, the projected 12-month total of 'hits' is likely to exceed 3,000,000. Happy visiting!                            [May 16]

Pope Leo's first bishop: a Marist

The Holy Father has appointed the Marist District Superior of South America, Fr Miguel Ángel Contreras Llajaruna, SM, episcopal vicar for Consecrated Life of the diocese of Callao, as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Callao, Peru, assigning him the titular see of Babra.

The Holy See's press office released news of the appointment on May 15, with a background summary of Bishop-elect Miguel. 'Born on 5 July 1979 in Cajabamba, Peru, he entered the Marist seminary in Sullana-Piura, and carried out his studies in philosophy at the Instituto Superior de Estudios Teológicos Juan XXIII in Lima, and in theology at the Instituto Teológico Salesiano Cristo Resuscitado in Guadalajara, Mexico.

'He was then awarded a degree in sacred scripture from the Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and obtained a master’s degree in Gestión y Dirección Educativa from the Universidad Marcelino Champagnat in Lima, Peru.

'He was ordained a priest on 25 April 2008 and has held the following offices: promoter of the San José parish school in Callao (2012-2021), parish priest of Virgen Misionera (2015-2022), episcopal vicar for Consecrated Life of the diocese of Callao (since 2021), director general of the network of parish schools of the diocese of Callao (since 2022), and superior of the América del Sur district of the Marist Fathers (since 2022).'

Congratulations, Bishop Miguel!                              [May 15]

Euroinfo

The May issue of Euroinfo reports on the ministry of communications, youth leaders in NZ and Sahagun's Omnes Gentes. 

To download click here or go to Members' Page.                                [May 14]

Fr Jim Hargrave's farewell

Mourners at the May 13 funeral of Fr Jim Hargrave SM included Marist Fathers and Brothers, students and ex-students of the Marist College, Ashgrove, and other friends gathering in the college chapel for his farewell.

Former District Superior of the Marist Fathers in Australia, Fr Anthony Corcoran, presided at the Requiem liturgy in the company of Bishop Brian Finnegan and fellow priests before Fr Jim's interment at Nudgee Cemetery.  For details of Fr Jim's recent death and a summary of his life, click here.   Tribute in Catholic Leader: click here.

Below are scenes from the Requiem, including the presence of Marist Brothers and students with whom Fr Jim had ministered over the years.                              [May 13]

A Mothers' Day Blessing

Blessed are you, God of love and life, maker of heaven and earth.

You show your love for young people especially through the love, example, and prayer of those who care for them. Today, we honor mothers and those in maternal roles and those aspiring to be mothers.

Look upon them with love and kindness, comfort them in times of sorrow, and bless them with your joy and peace.

Deepen their love for those they care for and the love of those who care about them.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, whose mother birthed him into life, stood by him at the cross, and rejoiced in his rising from the dead. Amen

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin greets our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and reports on Norway's 100 Marist years and on Marist College, Suva. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                             [May 09] 

'Habemus Papam!'

'We have a Pope!' We welcome the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA as Pope Leo XIV, declared in Rome at 8 pm on May 08.  The Chicago-born missionary and former Prior-General of the Augustinian Order (2001-2012), Bishop of Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru (2015–2023) and prefect of the Vatican Prefect of Dicastery for Bishops (2023– ) becomes the 267th Pope and successor to St Peter.

During his time as international leader of the Augustinians, then-Fr Prevost made several visits to the order's schools and parishes in Australia.

We thank God for answering our prayers for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and welcome our new Holy Father.                               [May 09]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin contains news from Rome, St Peter Chanel celebrations and Archbishop Susitino Sionepoe as new Archbishop of Nouméa. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                                 [May 03]

Death of Fr Jim Hargrave SM

 After a short period in palliative care at Ashgrove, Qld, Fr Jim Hargrave died peacefully on May 02, aged 90. He had been a priest for 62 years after pioneering the role of chaplain in Marist schools in 1975. In summer holidays Fr Jim assisted with missionary work in Thailand, Philippines and Cameroon and in recent years was chaplain to the Marist Brothers' community at Ashgrove. For a summary of his life, click here. May he rest in peace.                           [May 02]

District Circular

The April issue of the Marist Fathers Australia District Circular is available at the Members' Page.                        [May 02] 

Day of Memories and Reflection

On Apr 26 the Sisters of St. Joseph held a ‘Day of Memories & Reflection’ at Baulkham Hills to remember and celebrate the arrival of the Mary Queen Sisters in Australia from Vietnam fifty years ago and only a few days before the fall of Saigon. Several Marist Fathers, notably Fr Tony King and then-provincial, Fr Peter Guiren, played a significant role in the arrival and on-going support of the Sisters.

The event began with a gathering of the original group of Mary Queen sisters and the Josephites who were novices at Baulkham Hills at that time. The gathering also included some Mary Queen sisters who joined the Josephites.  Some of the Mary Queen sisters had studied at CTU, Hunters Hill, a further involvement with Marists. Special mention was made of the Mary Queen sisters who later travelled from Australia to America to join their sisters who had escaped from Saigon to the USA. 

An afternoon session included other Josephites and women who may have left their respective congregations. The Eucharist celebrated by Frs Paul Sullivan and Andrew Murray concluded the day.  Fr Paul acknowledged the significance of this event in the history of the church and nation and thanked all the women present for their on-going commitment and ministry.                             [May 02]

First Vietnamese postulant

During the Eucharistic celebration in honour of Saint Peter Chanel, first Marist saint and martyr, Joseph Dinh Vu Nguyen from Vietnam began his postulancy program in the Society of Mary. Joseph is a member of the St Peter Chanel formation community in Davao, Philippines, and is the first Vietnamese candidate to join the program. Welcome, Joseph!                              [May 01] 

 Pacific news

The latest issue of the Oceania News Bulletin reports on Marist happenings throughout the Pacific in April. These include the visitation of Vanuatu and New Caledonia, new Archbishop of Noumea, Easter and St Peter Chanel's day.  To download click here or go to Members' Page.                        [May 01]